Cap for attachment to a barrel end and storage means therefor

ABSTRACT

A convex cap ( 1 ) for removable attachment to a barrel ( 2 ) end of projectile ( 3 ) firing equipment such as the end of a gun barrel ( 2 ), purposed to protect the interior of the projectile ( 3 ) firing equipment from foreign matter such as dust, dirt, debris and moisture wherein the cap ( 1 ) is adapted to be in place on the barrel ( 2 ) end at the time of firing. A means of storing caps is also provided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of weaponry andmore specifically to a means of protecting the interior of projectilefiring equipment, including the barrel, from foreign matter such asdust, dirt, debris and moisture including that in the form of rain andsnow.

It is known in the art that debris and moisture in the barrel or otherinterior portions of projectile firing equipment can lead to malfunctionthereof and/or physical and/or chemical degradation including corrosion.Furthermore, if firing equipment becomes plugged it may becomesusceptible to exploding.

Other caps have been disclosed in the art such as in U.S. Pat. No.3,455,047 entitled “Muzzle Patch For Firearms” issued to Hoag on Jul.15, 1969. Hoag describes an adhesive patch which is pressed onto the tipof a muzzle of a gun to prevent dust and moisture from entering thebarrel of the gun. The patch is made of a suitable plastic such as thematerial used to make Scotch (trade mark) tape and need not be removedprior to firing. The properties of this patch do not provide all of theadvantages of the cap of the present invention. For example, the minimalstrength of the patch fails to afford the protection provided by the capof the present invention. Also, the patch is flat which fails toaccomplish the distinct advantage realized by the present invention aswill become apparent from this application in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a capfor removable attachment to a barrel end of projectile firing equipmentwhich allows substantially unaffected firing of the projectile firingequipment, wherein the barrel end is perpendicular to a direction offiring of the projectile firing equipment, characterized by a centralconvex portion which covers an aperture of the barrel end; and aperipheral edge portion joined peripherally to the central convexportion and adapted to be removably attached, via an attachment means,to the barrel end and having a substantially similar form as the barrelend.

The cap generally comprises means to removably attach the cap to abarrel end of projectile firing equipment, means to reduce or inhibitentry of moisture or debris into the barrel, means to allow theprojectile firing equipment to fire a projectile without significantinterference caused by the cap wherein the cap is blown completely offof the barrel, and means to allow the cap to be removably attached to astorage medium. These and other means are structurally provided byappropriate shape, size, and other characteristics of the cap. The sizeand shape of the protector are dependent on the barrel onto which thecap is to be placed. The cap may be of various sizes in order to be usedwith various types of barrels and numerous gauges and calibers of guns.Also, the cap may be used for double barrel guns and magazine wells.

The cap is of convex form which allows the cap to be effectively blownoff the barrel upon firing. In contrast, a flat surface may blow offonly in part leaving a portion attached to the barrel. The weight of thecap and the attachment characteristics ensure that the cap will not, toany substantial degree, affect the trajectory of the projectile.

The cap provides a substantially water- and air-proof seal to theprojectile firing equipment. Also, the cap is adapted to remain in placeif the projectile firing equipment is jarred. The cap is also resistantto puncture.

The convex cap is adapted for removable attachment to a barrel end ofprojectile firing equipment and is adapted to be in place on the barrelend at the time of firing of the projectile firing equipment. Althoughit is not necessary, in the least, for the cap to be removed from thebarrel end prior to firing, the user may remove the cap withoutcompromising the functioning thereof.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided astorage pad, comprising a substantially planar surface upon which one ora plurality of caps described above can be removably attached, thesurface being so structured to removably hold the caps, such that thecaps, when removed from the surface are ready for application to barrelend of a barrel. The caps may be readily removed from the storage padwithout any tools. The caps, when removed from the storage pad, are in aready-to-be applied state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a barrel cap according to an embodiment of thepresent invention in place on a barrel;

FIG. 2 illustrates the barrel cap of FIG. 1 which has been released fromthe barrel;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the barrel cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the barrel cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the barrel cap of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the cap according to another embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a plan view of several caps on a storage case according to anembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As shown in the figures, a barrel cap 1 according to an embodiment ofthe present invention is adapted to cooperate with the end of a barrel2, for example, a gun barrel. The cap 1 is preferably annular, and morepreferably circular. As shown well in FIG. 5, the cap 1 comprises twomain portions, an edge portion 5 and a convex portion 6. The edgeportion 5 comprises adhesive such that the cap 1 may be removablyadhered to the end of a barrel 2. Although these two cap portions aredescribed herein as two portions, the present invention embodies boththe configuration where these portions form one continuous structure andthat where more than one structure forms the cap.

In a preferred embodiment, the edge portion 5 comprises an intermediateportion 7 and an adhesive portion 8. The intermediate portion 7 is madeof a material which is compatible in the required conditions, includingcontact with the convex portion 6 and a barrel 2. The intermediateportion 7 is attached to the convex portion 6 and the adhesive portion8. An example of a suitable material for the intermediate portion 7 isaluminum. The convex portion 6 is preferably plastic and of a flexiblenature such as the plastic used on a cap of a two litre plastic bottle.Therefore, as seen in the figures, the edge portion 5 comes in contactwith the barrel end, and specifically the end surface of the barrel 2perpendicular to the direction of firing.

Referring to FIG. 2, when a projectile 3, for example a bullet, is firedby way of a barrel 2, air pressure 4 is created in front of theprojectile. When the cap 1 is adhered to the barrel 2 the air pressure 4exerts a force on the cap 1 causing the cap to become dislodged from thebarrel 1 and released into the air. The thickness of the cap ispreferably between approximately ⅛ in. and 1/64 in. and more preferablyapproximately 1/32 in. The adhesive is preferably Tesa P (trademark)manufactured by BDF Beiresdorf of the United States and is such thatonce the cap is released from the barrel, the barrel is substantiallyclean of any residue of the cap or adhesive.

In a preferred embodiment the edge portion 5 comprises a tape made ofaluminum foil having an adhesive on one side. This tape is preferablyfused to the convex portion 6 during manufacturing.

In an alternative embodiment exemplified in FIG. 6, the cap 1 comprisesa tab 10 which permits the cap 1 to be readily removed from a barrel 2or a storage means 11 as discussed below. The cap 1 is designed to beremovable by the user and this tab 10 is useful in this regard.

Referring to FIG. 7, a storage means 11 is illustrated which is adaptedto removably hold at least one and preferably several barrel caps, suchas from 4 to 24 and preferably 12. The surface of the storage means issuch that the caps 1 are held in place but can be removed by a user in astate which is ready for use and preferably comprises treated materialsuch as waxed cardboard. In particular, the adhesive remains intactwhile on the storage means 11 and once removed therefrom. In a preferredembodiment the storage means is approximately 2⅛″ by 3⅜″ and stores 12caps. The storage means is preferred so dimensioned to fit in a shirtpocket or wallet.

Before applying the cap 1 to a barrel 2, the inside of the barrel 2 maybe substantially cleansed of any debris, oil or the like. Also, in orderto improve the functioning of the protector, the end surface of thebarrel 2 may be cleansed.

A preferred height of the convex portion 6 of the cap 1 is approximately1/16″ to ⅛″ excluding the edge portion 5 which is preferablyapproximately 1/64″. A preferred radius of curvature of the convexportion 6 is approximately 9/16″ to 33/32″. For instance, a cap 1 with adiameter of ½″, which would be suitable for a 308 Remington, and aheight of the convex portion 6 of ⅛″ would have a radius of curvature of9/16″. Alternatively, if a height of the convex portion is 1/16″ and thecap diameter remains the same at ½″ the radius of curvature of the capwould be 33/32″.

In a preferred embodiment the caps are a camouflage color in order toachieve the camouflage effect often desired when using projectile firingequipment. In an alternative embodiment, the cap includes a means forhigh visibility such as a means of luminescence such as a fluorescentcomposition.

In another embodiment of the present invention, registration numbers areprovided on each cap in order to permit caps to be more readily tracked.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The cap for attachment to a barrel end and storage means therefor astaught herein generally provide improved means of protecting theinterior of projectile firing equipment, including the barrel, fromforeign matter such as dirt, debris and moisture including that in theform of rain or snow and an improved means of storing such caps.

1. A cap (1) for removable attachment to a barrel end of projectilefiring equipment (2) which allows substantially unaffected firing ofsaid projectile firing equipment, wherein said barrel end isperpendicular to a direction of firing of said projectile firingequipment, characterized by: a central convex portion (6) which coversan aperture of said barrel end; and a peripheral edge portion (5) joinedperipherally to said central convex portion (6) and adapted to beremovably attached, via an attachment means, to said barrel end andhaving a substantially similar form as said barrel end.
 2. A cap (1)according to claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises an adhesiveon said edge portion (5).
 3. A cap (1) according to claim 1 wherein saidedge portion (5) comprises an intermediate portion (7) and an adhesiveportion (8), characterized in that, when said cap (1) is attached tosaid barrel end, said adhesive portion (8) contacts said barrel end, andsaid intermediate portion (7) lies between said adhesive portion (8) andsaid convex portion (6), and characterized in that said intermediateportion (7) is made of a material which is compatible with both saidconvex portion (6) and said adhesive portion (8).
 4. A cap (1) accordingto claim 3 wherein said intermediate portion (7) and said adhesiveportion (8) comprise a tape having said adhesive portion (8) on one sidethereof and said intermediate portion (7) on an opposite side thereof.5. A cap (1) according to claim 3 wherein said intermediate portion (7)is formed of aluminum.
 6. A cap (1) according to claim 1 wherein saidcap (1) provides an air- and water-tight seal when said cap (1) isattached to said barrel end.
 7. A cap (1) according claim 1 wherein saidcap (1) is resistant to puncture.
 8. A cap (1) according to claim 1wherein said cap (1) comprises a tab (10) for gripping by a user,characterized in that said tab (10), when said cap (1) is attached tosaid barrel end, extends beyond said barrel end in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to said direction of firing of saidprojectile firing equipment.
 9. A cap (1) according to claim 1 whereinsaid convex portion (6) comprises a plastic material.
 10. A cap (1)according to claim 1 wherein the height of said convex portion (6) isfrom 1/16 to ⅛ inch.
 11. A cap (1) according to claim 1 wherein saidedge portion (5) and said convex portion (6) are circular.
 12. A cap (1)according to claim 11 wherein the radius of curvature of said convexportion (6) is from 9/16 to 33/32 inch.
 13. A cap (1) according to claim11 wherein the diameter of said convex portion (6) is substantially ½inch.
 14. A cap (1) according to claim 1 wherein said cap (1) isprovided with a registration number thereon to identify the firing ofthe projectile firing equipment.
 15. A cap (1) according to claim 1wherein said cap (1) comprises camouflage coloring.
 16. A cap (10according to claim 1 wherein said cap (1) is luminescent.
 17. A storagepad (11), having a substantially planar surface upon which one or aplurality of caps (1) according to claim 1 can be removably attached,said surface being so structured to removably hold said caps (1), suchthat said caps (1), when removed from said surface are ready forapplication to barrel end of a barrel.